By Molly Snyder Senior Writer Published Nov 07, 2024 at 7:01 PM

OnMilwaukee is a proud sponsor of Milwaukee Krampusnacht. 
Milwaukee Krampusnacht, organized by Tea Krulos, is a celebration of the folkloric monster Krampus. Think of Krampus as the opposite of St. Nick. According to lore and for real in some European homes, kids are bribed into niceness with the threat of unkind and giftless Krampus visiting instead of St. Nick.

To celebrate this dark and delightful tradition, Milwaukee Krampusnacht takes place on Sunday, Dec. 1 from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. at the businesses of the Brewery District.

The event is family friendly (anything not kid-friendly is noted in the schedule) and includes over 60 vendors, live music, comedy, karaoke, craft workshops, an escape room, games, food and drink, and more.

This year will feature returning favorites like Kid’s Krampus Hour and the American Ghost Walks Krampus Parade, as well as fun new stuff like the Spooky Frog Scavenger Hunt, Krampus Court and the Mari Lwyd Rap Battle.

Here’s a full schedule of Milwaukee Krampusnacht events:

Saturday, Nov. 16, 8:30 p.m.: Milwaukee Krampusnacht screening of Red One at The Avalon Theater, 2473 S. Kinnickinnic Ave.
When Santa gets kidnapped by Krampus, a strikeforce from the North Pole is assembled to retrieve him. Red One stars Dwayne Johnson, Chris Evans, J.K. Simmons, Kiernan Shipka, and Lucy Liu (plus Kristofer Hivju as Krampus). Get your photo taken with Krampus and company in the lobby before the movie. “Just movie” and “movie plus half off Krampusnacht general admission” tickets available here.

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Sunday, December 1, 3-10pm: Milwaukee Krampusnacht
Best Place, 917 W. Juneau Ave.
Best Place’s Gift Shop will be open and their café will be serving hot drinks.

Best Place Great Hall OnMilwaukee Stage
3 p.m.: DJ Shotski
5 p.m.: The Squeezettes
6 p.m.: Xposed 4heads
7:30 p.m.: Post-Parade Monster Party w/ Extra Crispy Brass Band, Tamarind Tribal Belly Dance, and the Mari Lwyd Rap Battle (Dr. Meffenstein and his Mari Lwyd vs Puerto Wiccan, jon henry, and Super Ego, emcee: Darrin Alston Jr.)
Great Hall will have donation boxes for the Toys for Tots drive and a white elephant exchange is in Capt. Pabst’s Office in the Great Hall. (Bring a new gift for a kid or teen and a quirky, ridiculous gift for the white elephant exchange.)

Best Place St. Nick’s Speakeasy (underneath Great Hall)
Tarot readers and Milwaukee Theremin Society performs at 5 and 6 p.m.

King’s Courtyard (by Gift Shop)
4 p.m.: Milwaukee Theremin Society
4:30 p.m.: Heavy Metal Krampus I
5 p.m.: Wend O’Lynn
6 p.m.: Dark Arts Circus

Best Place Blue Ribbon Hall
Activities sponsored by Northwoods Bricks
3:30 p.m.: Kid’s Krampus Hour
5 p.m.: “Wisconsin’s Legendary Monsters,” presented by Jeff Finup (Badgerland Legends)
5:30 p.m.: Krampuskarten workshop (make your own Krampus-themed holiday cards! Sponsored by OnMilwaukee and QWERTYFEST MKE)
7:30 p.m.: German pub party with Milwaukee Alpenbläser

Pilot Project (1128 N.9th St.)
Open for food and drink. Pilot Project has partnered with Krampusnacht for a special brew: Wee Heavy Horns. Wee Heavy Horns Pilot Project Market has over 15 vendors. The WMSE Yeti Lounge & Barrel Rooms has additional vendors, the official Milwaukee Krampusnacht merch booth and a special gaming session with local tabletop role-playing game creators.

Barley Room (1125 N. 9th St.)
Over 30 vendors in the American Science & Surplus Barley Room Market, plus this year Best Place will have a pop-up bar featuring a drink special called “Krampusschlap.” Note: American Ghost Walks haunted tour bus departs and drops off outside the Barley Room.

Find a full list of vendors here: 2024 Vendors – Milwaukee Krampusnacht 2024: Sunday Dec. 1st

Amped (910 W. Juneau Ave.)
Serving food, drink and karaoke.
4 p.m.: The Full Frontal Püppets present: A Xmas Xarol
5 p.m.: Krampus Court (improv comedy)
6 p.m.: The Full Frontal Püppets present: A Xmas Xarol
Warning: both A Xmas Xarol and Krampus Court contain “adult humor.”
Plus, the Krampusnacht Creepy Holiday Village diorama contest and Yule Cat Alley karaoke outside.

On Tap (1203 N. 10th St.)
Open for food and drink.
Patio: Goth Barge DJs
Spooky Frog Scavenger Hunt (get your map for $5, find the 9 locations on it and get a stamp at each one for a special prize.)

10th Street Market outside On Tap/ Brewhouse Inn
Outdoor vendors, plus food trucks.

Preservation Park (next to Best Place)
Unorthodox Entertainment Company presents "Christmas at the Dollhouse Escape Room."

American Ghost Walks Krampus Parade - a must see!
Takes place at 7 p.m on Juneau Avenue. 

Milwaukee Krampusnacht tickets are available here.


Molly Snyder started writing and publishing her work at the age 10, when her community newspaper printed her poem, "The Unicorn.” Since then, she's expanded beyond the subject of mythical creatures and written in many different mediums but, nearest and dearest to her heart, thousands of articles for OnMilwaukee.

Molly is a regular contributor to FOX6 News and numerous radio stations as well as the co-host of "Dandelions: A Podcast For Women.” She's received five Milwaukee Press Club Awards, served as the Pfister Narrator and is the Wisconsin State Fair’s Celebrity Cream Puff Eating Champion of 2019.